Darragh O'Keeffe just 15-8 with Paddy Power to be champion jockey after extending his title lead
Darragh O'Keeffe is just 15-8 with Paddy Power to be crowned champion jockey in Ireland for the first time as he stretched his lead over Paul Townend when steering Ace Brannigan to victory in the 2m½f maiden hurdle.
There were flip-flopping favourites ahead of the race as punters decided it was Ace Brannigan they wanted to be with rather than market rival Letos, who drifted out to 5-4 having been odds-on all morning.
Ace Brannigan was backed into even-money and won in style by six and a half lengths.
It continued the remarkable recent run of trainer Henry de Bromhead, who has sent out ten winners from 31 runners over the last fortnight.
O'Keeffe has ridden 45 winners already this season, making a seamless transition into the role of stable jockey at Knockeen following the retirement of Rachael Blackmore.
Seven-time champion jockey Townend remains the 1-2 market leader to secure another title.
Romella rules
Brendan Walsh wasted no time in sending Romella back into action after she was second at Clonmel last Thursday, and it proved an inspired move by the trainer as she landed the 2m½f mares' handicap hurdle at odds of 11-2 under a cool Phillip Enright.
Love is in the air
Love Bite was a shock winner of the 2m7½f handicap hurdle for County Galway trainer Grainne O'Connor and jockey Aidan Kelly at 40-1.
The seven-year-old had been out of sorts, with form figures of 807P this season, but she bounced right back to her best to score in first-time cheekpieces by a length and three-quarters from County Champs.
Read these next . . .
Did Christophe Soumillon go too soon on Minnie Hauk in the Arc?
Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.
Published on inReports
Last updated
Copy- Bangor: 'I didn’t expect to see her win like that' - Diva Luna slashed to 16-1 for Cheltenham Festival after 19-length chase debut success
- Hereford: 'He's one of the pacier ones at home' - Race To Base gets off the mark with smart hurdling display
- Huntingdon: 'I’m in a privileged position right now' - Gavin Sheehan lands second double in as many days
- Lingfield: 'He's a chaser in the making' - Ronnie Bartlett and Dan Skelton off to a flyer with smart hurdling debutant Minella Marathon
- Kempton: 'He might be the type for the Lanzarote Hurdle' - Idy Wood wins Pertemps qualifier for red-hot Jamie Snowden
- Bangor: 'I didn’t expect to see her win like that' - Diva Luna slashed to 16-1 for Cheltenham Festival after 19-length chase debut success
- Hereford: 'He's one of the pacier ones at home' - Race To Base gets off the mark with smart hurdling display
- Huntingdon: 'I’m in a privileged position right now' - Gavin Sheehan lands second double in as many days
- Lingfield: 'He's a chaser in the making' - Ronnie Bartlett and Dan Skelton off to a flyer with smart hurdling debutant Minella Marathon
- Kempton: 'He might be the type for the Lanzarote Hurdle' - Idy Wood wins Pertemps qualifier for red-hot Jamie Snowden